Wrist watch-type headset assembly

ABSTRACT

A wrist watch-type headset assembly for wirelessly communicating with a portable terminal is provided. In the wrist watch-type headset assembly, a fixing body of a predetermined shape includes a band to be worn around the wrist of a user, and a headset having a Bluetooth module is detachably installed on the fixing body, for wirelessly communicating with the portable terminal during a call, the portable terminal being detached from the fixing body.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to an applicationentitled “Wrist Watch-Type Bluetooth Headset Assembly” filed in theKorean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 22, 2005 and assigned Ser.No. 2005-76598, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a headset to be worn on thebody of a user, for wireless communications with a portable terminal,and in particular, to a wrist watch-type Bluetooth headset configured tobe multi-functional and very portable.

2. Description of the Related Art

The development of the electronic and communications industry is adriving force behind the proliferation of portable terminals. To meetusers' demands, the portable terminals are being developed to havemulti-functions, a small size, and be lightweight. Peripheral devicesare also being attached or added to the terminals. The peripheraldevices can include an attachable or built-in camera, a smart card as anauxiliary memory, an ear microphone installed to a terminal, forcommunications, and a Bluetooth headset for wirelessly communicatingwith a terminal by a Bluetooth module provided in the terminal.

Bluetooth-enabled terminals are equipped with a Bluetooth antenna moduleoperating in the 2.4 GHz band in addition to a main antenna device forcommunications. They also have a Bluetooth module in a main board, forwireless short-range communications with a Bluetooth headset.

The Bluetooth headset was designed for hands-free use of the portableterminal. Since there is no need for a cable between the Bluetoothheadset and the terminal, the convenience of using the terminalincreases, and the Bluetooth headset is simpler to carry than a generalhands-free wired ear microphone.

However, since the Bluetooth headset is carried separately from theterminal, it is vulnerable to loss and is likely to be left behind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to substantially solve at leastthe above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least theadvantages below. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is toprovide a wrist watch-type Bluetooth headset assembly configured to bemore portable, thereby considerably decreasing the danger of loss andbreakage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist watch-typeBluetooth headset which can be worn on the wrist of a user with highportability and which can be charged when it is carried.

The above objects are achieved by providing a wrist watch-type Bluetoothheadset assembly for wirelessly communicating with a portable terminalis provided. In the wrist watch-type Bluetooth headset assembly, afixing body of a predetermined shape includes a band to be worn aroundthe wrist of a user, and a Bluetooth headset is detachably installed onthe fixing body, for wirelessly communicating with the portable terminalduring a call, the portable terminal being detached from the fixingbody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Bluetooth headset assembly accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of Bluetooth headset assembly illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a Bluetooth headset detachedfrom a fixing body according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the Bluetooth headset according tothe present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an earphone retracted into and extended fromthe Bluetooth headset, respectively according to the present invention;and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of important portions of the Bluetoothheadset installed in the fixing body according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, well-known functions or constructions are not described indetail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Bluetooth headset assembly 1 accordingto the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the Bluetooth headsetassembly 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspectiveview of a Bluetooth headset 20 detached from a fixing body 10 accordingto the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the Bluetooth headset assembly 1 includes afixing body 10 with a predetermined wrist watch-type band 30, and aBluetooth headset 20 mounted on the fixing body 10 such that it can bedetached from the fixing body 10.

The band 30 of the fixing body 10 can be worn around the wrist of auser. While the fixing body 10 is shown to be circular, it can be shapedas desired. A plurality of buttons 13 and 13′ can protrude outward froma surface of the fixing body 10, and release buttons 16 and 17 can be onthe right and left sides of the surface. The release buttons 16 and 17can function as locking portions to fix and detach the Bluetooth headset20 in and from the fixing body 10.

The Bluetooth headset 20 is preferably a Bluetooth module which caninclude a body 21 configured to fit onto a mounting recess 11 of thefixing body 10 and an earphone 24 can extend downward from the body 21to fit into an ear hole of the user, for a call. In addition, a LiquidCrystal Display (LCD) module 22 can be installed on an upper surface ofthe body 21 to let the Bluetooth headset assembly 1 serve as a watch bydisplaying the present time when the Bluetooth headset 20 is mounted onthe fixing body 10. A plurality of buttons 23 can be provided in thevicinity of the LCD module 22, for invoking functions including timesetting and on/off for a call. While not shown, the Bluetooth headset 20can have a built-in microphone for sending voice from the user.

The mounting recess 11 can be defined on the fixing body 10 so that thebody 21 of the Bluetooth headset 20 can be mounted on the mountingrecess 11. Preferably, when the Bluetooth headset 20 is fit on themounting recess 11, the upper surface of the body 21 is substantiallyeven with that of the fixing body 10, for enhancing the appearance ofthe Bluetooth headset 20. A mounting groove 12 can be formed lower thanthe mounting recess 11, for allowing the earphone 24 extending from thebody 21 to be mounted therein. The function keys 13 and 13′ can beprovided on the upper surface of the fixing body 10 for use incontrolling charging or the operation of the Bluetooth headset 20 whenit is installed.

While the Bluetooth headset 20 can be fixed into the fixing body 10 in aknown snap-fit structure or in a forced insertion fashion, it is shownfixed by a predetermined locking portion in the present invention, sothat it can be kept firmly in the fixing body 10 during excessivemotion, such as during exercise, for example. Therefore, lockers 15 canprotrude from the inner side surface of the fixing body 10. The lockers15 can be shaped into hooks and operated by the release buttons 16 and17 formed on the outer surface of the fixing body 10. In correspondencewith the lockers 15, engagement grooves 25 can be formed on a sidesurface of the body 21 of the Bluetooth headset 20. Hence, when the body21 is mounted on the mounting recess 11 of the fixing body 10, thehook-shaped lockers 15can be inserted into the engagement grooves 25such that the Bluetooth headset 20 is not detached from the fixing body10 until the release buttons 16 and 17 are pressed. Preferably, a pairof locking structures each having a locker 15 and an engagement groove25 can be provided facing each other and the release buttons 16 and17can be installed at positions corresponding to the locking structures,for realizing more stable locking of the Bluetooth headset 20. Thus,when the release buttons 16 and 17 are pressed in the □ and □ directionsin FIG. 3, the Bluetooth headset 20 can be detached from the fixing body10.

The Bluetooth headset 20 can be configured to be automatically ormanually chargeable when it is mounted in the fixing body 10 by a powersupply included in the fixing body 10 and/or the band 30. Therefore, aplurality of power terminals 14 and 14′ can protrude from appropriatepositions of the mounting recess 11. The power terminals 14 and 14′ canbe formed into protruding springs, for not only electrically connectingthe Bluetooth headset 20 to the fixing body 10, but also for pushing theBluetooth headset 20 upward, i.e. in the □ direction in FIG. 3, in orderto facilitate the use of the Bluetooth headset 20 when the releasebuttons 16 and 17 are pressed. Referring to FIG. 4, terminal portions 26and 26′ can be formed at positions corresponding to the power terminals14 and 14′, and electrically connected to a built-in battery (not shown)of the Bluetooth headset 20.

In accordance with the present invention, in order to reduce the areathat the earphone 24 occupies in the fixing body 10, the earphone 24protruding from the Bluetooth headset 20 can be configured in aretractable structure. When used, the earphone 24 can then extend to apredetermined length from the body 21, and when not used, the earphone24 can be retracted into a predetermined space 29 within the body 21.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the earphone 24 retracted into and extendedfrom the Bluetooth headset 20, respectively, according to the presentinvention. When not used, the earphone 24 can be retracted into the body21 of the Bluetooth headset 20 installed in the fixing body 10, asillustrated in FIG. 5. When the user uses the earphone 24 for a call,the earphone 24 can be extended to a predetermined length in an arroweddirection so that it can be worn in an ear hole of the user, asillustrated in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the earphone 24 can be configured byuse of a plurality of hollow shafts 27 and 28 with different diameterscommunicating with each other. While not shown, the hollow shafts 27 and28 may be provided with an extension restricting portion for restrictingthe extension of the hollow shafts 27 and 28 to a predetermined length.The earphone 24 can be electrically connected to a board 34 within thebody 21 by means of a predetermined cable 35 extending through theshafts 27 and 28.

A coin battery or other power source can be used as a power supply forthe fixing body 10, and a plate battery cell or other power source canbe used as a power supply for the band 30.

FIG. 7 illustrates the Bluetooth headset assembly 1 in which a pluralityof battery cells 31 are provided in the band 30, each battery cell 31being electrically connected to a board 32 with a charging circuit inthe fixing body 10 by means of a fine wire cable 33, to which thepresent invention is not limited. If space permits, a Flexible PrintedCircuit (FPC) can substitute for the fine wire cable 33. When batterycells 31 are provided in the band 30, the band 30 is preferably formedof synthetic resin or rubber, and the battery cells 31 are preferablyinsert-molded into the band 30 so that the band 30 appears normal. Thus,the battery cells 31 or a coin-type charger can be charged with externalpower applied from a connector terminal 18 in FIG. 1, provided on theouter surface of the fixing body 10 and, in turn, can charge thebuilt-in battery of the Bluetooth headset 20 when the Bluetooth headset20 is installed in the fixing body 10.

In accordance with the present invention as described above, theBluetooth headset assembly 1 is of a wrist watch type. It can normallyfunction as a watch and as a headset during a call. Therefore, thedanger of loss or breakage encountered with a headset carried in ageneral manner is avoided. Furthermore, since the Bluetooth headset 20is chargeable all the time, it can operate for a longer time.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to acertain preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

1. A wrist watch-type headset assembly for wirelessly communicating witha portable terminal, the assembly comprising: a fixing body of apredetermined shape including a band to be worn around a wrist of auser; and a Bluetooth headset having a Bluetooth module, the headsetbeing detachably installed on the fixing body, for wirelesslycommunicating with the portable terminal during a call, the portableterminal being detached from the fixing body.
 2. The wrist watch-typeheadset assembly of claim 1, wherein the headset comprises: a bodyinstalled in the fixing body and having a displaying module fordisplaying time to allow the headset assembly to be used as a watch,when not used for communications; an earphone protruding downward fromthe body; and a microphone built in the body.
 3. The wrist watch-typeheadset assembly of claim 2, wherein the fixing body further comprises:a mounting recess defined to allow the body of the headset to be mountedtherein; and a mounting groove for inserting the earphone thereinto. 4.The wrist watch-type headset assembly of claim 3, wherein the mountinggroove is lower than the mounting recess.
 5. The wrist watch-typeheadset assembly of claim 4, wherein when the body of the Bluetoothheadset is mounted onto the mounting recess of the fixing body, theupper surface of the body is substantially even with the upper surfaceof the fixing body.
 6. The wrist watch-type headset assembly of claim 3,wherein the fixing body further comprises: a locking portion including alocker protruding from an inner side surface of the fixing body, foroperating by a release button formed on an outer surface of the fixingbody; and an engagement groove formed on a side surface of the body ofthe headset in correspondence with the locker, for allowing the lockerto be engaged therein.
 7. The wrist watch-type headset assembly of claim1, further comprising, in at least one of the fixing body and the band,a power supply and a charging circuit electrically connected to thepower supply, for charging the headset when the headset is installed inthe fixing body.
 8. The wrist watch-type headset assembly of claim 3,wherein the fixing body further comprises a power terminal protrudingfrom the mounting recess and the headset comprises a terminal portionbeneath the body of the headset in correspondence with the powerterminal, thereby electrically connecting the body of the headset to thefixing body and charging the headset, when the body of the headset ismounted in the mounting recess of the fixing body.
 9. The wristwatch-type headset assembly of claim 8, wherein the power terminal isformed into a protruding spring, for pushing the body of the headsetupward when the body is released from a locked state by the releasebutton.
 10. The wrist watch-type headset assembly of claim 9, whereinthe fixing body further comprises a predetermined interface connectorterminal formed on an outer surface thereof, for externally supplyingpowerfrom a power supply.
 11. The wrist watch-type headset assembly ofclaim 10, wherein the power supply is a coin-type chargeable batteryinstalled on the fixing body.
 12. The wrist watch-type headset assemblyof claim 10, wherein the power supply is at least one plate-type batterycell built in the band.
 13. The wrist watch-type headset assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the band is formed of one of synthetic resin andrubber and the battery cell is fixed in the band by insert-molding. 14.The wrist watch-type headset assembly of claim 3, wherein the earphoneis installed in a retractable structure to be actively inserted into themounting groove of the fixing body.
 15. The wrist watch-type headsetassembly of claim 14, wherein the earphone is configured to be extendedor retracted by a plurality of shafts with different diameters insertedinto the body of the headset.
 16. A wrist headset assembly forwirelessly communicating with a portable terminal, the assemblycomprising: a fixing body including a band to be worn around a wrist ofa user; and a Bluetooth module headset being installed on the fixingbody for wirelessly communicating with the portable terminal.
 17. Thewrist headset assembly of claim 16, wherein the headset comprises: abody installed in the fixing body and having a display module fordisplaying time to allow the headset assembly to be used as a watch, anearphone protruding downward from the body; and a microphone built inthe body.